Attachment plug



E. J. ATE PAS ATTACHMENT PLUG Feb. 22, 193s.

Filed Aug. 8, 1933 INVENTOR Patented Feb. 22. 193s s PATENT OFFICEATTACHMENT PLUG Edmund J. Te Pas, Rocky River, Ohio, assigner to 1Walter A. Frantz, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application August 8, 1933,Serial No. 684,192

' o Claims. (01.17%322) screws 3. The body parts I and 2 may be con-This invention relates to electrical connectors as for example theterminal plug caps of attache ment plugs for electrical cords and it hasf or its objects the provision` of a device lof this character which isnot liable to breakage, which is not liable to electrical shortcircuiting, and which is not apt to become detached from the cord'or tohave the electrical connection broken between the plug contacts and theconductor strands of the cord, the aforesaid objects being accomplishedthrough the use of a simple and inexpensive form of plug capconstruction which can be readily attached to an electric cord bypersons unskilled and inexperienced in the construction of electricaldevices and appliances.

With theseand other objects in view, the invention. consists in thenovel construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafterillustrated anddescribed in some of its embodi- 0 ments in theaccompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a plug capillustrative of one mode of practicing this invention; Figure 2 is'asectional view taken on line 2-2, Figure 1; Figure 3.is a

plan 'view partly in section taken on line 3-3.'

Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of another form of plugcap illustrative of the invention; Figure 5 is asectional view taken online 5;-5, Figure 6; Figure 6 is a plan view partly in section vtakenfon line 6--6, Figure 5; Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line'|-'I, Figure 8, of yet another form lof plug cap illustrative of theinvention; and Figure 8 is a sectional view of 35 the plug cap taken online 8 8 of Figure 7.

Three forms of plug caps are shown in the drawing for the purpose ofillustratingsome of the diierent ways of carrying out this invention.

The body ofthe plug cap shown in Figures 1 to 3 Loncomprises a cap I andan end part 2,' the cap f and end part being removably associated witheach other and secured together in their assembled relation by means oftwo screws 3--3 which also serve to maintain electrical contact between45 the plug contact terminal blades or prongs 4 and thevends ci theconductor strands 5 of an electrical cord 6.

j The body parts I and 2 of the plug cap are arranged interiorly forreceiving the cord 6 and 5o also'for receiving a body of softrubber-like niaterial 'I which normally loosely surrounds the endlsoithev cord and which is tightly wedged in gripping relation about thecord when the body parts I and 2 'of the plug cap are drawn together 55in .their assembled relation by means of the veniently formed from anelectrically non-conducting rigid material as for example vulcanite orone of the many other materials which are `availableand commonly usedfor this purpose.

Threaded bushings 8 are embedded in thecap I for receiving the threadedends of the screws 3 by means of which the conductor strands 5 areconnected to the contact prongs 4. A washer 9 which may be constructedof fiber or other electrically non-conducting materials is provided to4cover the screws 3 and to complete the assembly f of the plug.

The plug .cap just described constitutes a'simple and relativelyinexpensive plug cap which may be readily attached or detached withrespect to an electric cord. The connecting of the plug cap terminals tothe conductor strands of the -cord serves automatically to anchor theplug cap cord and the contact prongs of the plug, these screws alsoserving to secure the contact prongs in proper position. The aforesaidplug parts are of simple construction and the completed plug cap forms ahighly useful device for the ,purpose intended. i I

The modified form of plug cap shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6 comprises anouter sheath or shell-I0 which is formed from a soft rubber-likeelectrically non-conducting material beyond one end of which a pair ofcontact prongs II extend. The contact prongs are secured to a rigid partI2 of the plug by means of suitable rivets I3. A cooperating plug partVI4 having threaded sleeves I5 cooperates with the part I2 t'o cause asoft rubber-like body I6 to frictionally grip an electrical cord II.`

A pair of screws I8 are provided to connect the conductor strands I9 ofthe cord to the contact prongs II, such screwsserving at the same iswedged in gripping relation with respect to the end of the cord I'I. AsuitableA washer 20 is provided to cover the screws I8 and to completethe assembly of the plug.

'I'he plug parts II, I2. I4 and I6 are constructed as separate elementsof the plug which upon the completion of their manufacture may bereadily assembled together whereupon the sheath flange Ilsi which nts ina suitable groove formed in the sheath and in this manner the sheath isretained in proper position on the plug cap. In this form of theinvention also the screws used to secure the conductor strands to theplug have the added function of locking the plug cap to the electricalcord. l

'I'he modiiled form of plug cap shown in Figures 'l and 8 comprises asoft rubber-like body 2| in which is embedded a rigid circular plate 22having threaded sleeves 23 for receiving apair of screws 24 by means ofwhich the conductor strands 25. of an electrical cord 26 are secured toa .pair of suitable contact prongs 21 carried by a rigid plate 28. Asuitable washer 29 is provided for covering the screws 24 and forcompleting the assembly of the plug. The disk 22 is provided with holes30 to better insureits anchorage in the plug body.

In this exemplification'of the invention, when the screws 24 varetightened in eiecting the connection between the conductor strands andthe contact prongs, the soft rubber-like material of the plug which islocated between the members 22 and 28 is compressed and forced intogripping relation with respect to the end of the cord 26 whereby theplug cap is firmly anchored to the end of the cord.

In the various forms of plug caps just described, the eiectingr of theconnection of the conductor strands of the cord serves also to anchorthe iilug cap to the end ofthe cord whereby the .danger of separation ofthe plug with respect to the cord, the breaking of the electricalVconnection between the conductor strands o! the cord and the` contactprongs, and the short circuiting between the conductor strands of thetion and whichl may be readily clamped to thel cord is greatly lessenedif not wholly oviated and a highly useful form of plug is provided whichis of relatively simple and inexpensive construcend of the cord by themeans which are provided for eii'ecting electrical connection betweentheV cord andthe contact members of the plug.

Furthermore it is to be understood that the particular forms ofapparatus shown. and de' scribed, and the particular'procedure set forthare presented for purposes of explanation and that various modiiicationsof said apparatus and procedure can be made without' departure from thisinvention as described in the appended claims.

Having thus described my claim is: A 1. An attachment plug cap inventionwhat I for use in connection with a iiexible electric cord havingconductor strands comprising a body lifor'med from a 'soft rubber-likematerial having a central pas-v sageway for the reception Ourthe cord, arelatively rigid member embedded in said body and a second relativelyrigid member spaced therefrom, contact blades carried by said last-namedmember,V and means engaging said embedded member for connecting theconductor strands to saidblades l' and for drawing said rigid memberstogether whereby the relatively vsoft material ot the plug y, disk-likemembers with aligned apertures for receiving the cord, contact elementscarriedjby -one of said members, a resilient `body surround- .7; ingsaid disk-like members providing a block of resilient material aroundthe cord at the place where it ,traverses the members, and means fordrawing said members toward each other for compressing the block ofresilient material aboutl the cord.

3.- An attachment plug cap for use in connection with a flexibleelectric cord having conductor strands comprising; a pair of relativelyrigid disk-like members with aligned apertures for receiving the cord,contact elements carried by one of saidv members, a block of resilientmaterial surrounding the cord at the place where it traverses themembers, and means for drawing said members toward each other forcompressing the resilient body about the cord and also for effectingelectrical connection between the strands of the cord and said contactelements.

4. An attachment plug cap i'or use in connection with a flexible'electric cord having conductor strands comprising, a pair of relativelyrigid disk-like'members with aligned'apertures for receiving the cord,contact elements carried by one of said members, a block of resilientmaterial surrounding the cord at the place where it traverses themembers, means for drawing said members toward each other forcompressing the yresilient' body about the cord, and a body of resilientmaterial integrally formed with said block surrounding said members.

' '.5. An attachment plug for use in connection bers for drawing themtoward each other and tor compressing the interposed portion'of saidbody about said cord.

6. An attachment plug for use in connection` with a iiexible cord.having conductor strands comprising. a body formed from a resilientmate' rial having a central passageway for receiving the cord,relatively rigid members in said body spaced from each other by aportion of said body, contact terminal elements carried by one of saidmembers, and means engaging said members for drawing them toward eachother for compressing the interposed portion of said body about saidcord and for electing 'connection of the conductor strands to saidterminal members.

EDMUND J. TE PAS.

